Following a good forest management plan is the key to sustaining the integrity of the forest, soil, water, and the wildlife that depend on these resources.  The plan outlines a schedule and guidelines for current and future management activities.  Best Management Practices (BMPs) should be included in the plan. 

The management plan should be developed in advance of any anticipated activity and should consider long and short term managerial objectives and the overall land use plan for the area.  If you have other management plans on a farm, be sure to integrate these plans.

The plan's formality and detail should be appropriate to the project size, cost and environmental risk.  The plan also should be flexible and adaptable to changing conditions.

Landowners and land managers should select the best forest management strategy to protect water quality specific to the site.  A contractor (i.e., logger, road developer) working with the landowner and land manager, is usually responsible for implementing forestry BMPs.

Fundamental to any plan should be consideration of the future character of the forest stand, particularly in regard to forest type and species composition.  Regeneration of desired species in the future stand depends on the management strategies implemented in the plan.

Professional foresters can work with you to develop a forest management plan.  Cost-sharing assistance may be available for plans written by a consulting forester.


Use the following check list to plan forest management activities:

Make a list of site-specific forestry BMPs needed to protect water quality and include the list in all timber sale contracts, timber harvest plans and forest management plans.

Develop a forest management plan that states the management objectives for the site.  Plan operations to protect water quality by considering site conditions. Identify on a map the following site conditions:

Verify property boundaries
Harvest unit boundary
Existing forest road system (roads, skid trails and landings)
Sensitive areas: streams, lakes, wetlands, floodplains, habitat areas for known  threatened or endangered aquatic and terrestrial plants and animal species,  steep slopes, and erodible soils.
Streamside Management Zones (SMZs)
Stream crossings
Equipment maintenance and fueling areas, log landings

The following resources can be used to identify site conditions:

1.  United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps (7.5 minute), available from the Illinois Geological Survey. (See Appendix A for contact information)

2.  Aerial photographs, available from the USDA Farm Service Agency county offices.

3.  County soil surveys, available from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

4.  Floodplain and Illinois Wetland Inventory Maps, may be reviewed at the local field office of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Conduct on-site evaluations.

Stabilize bare soil as soon as possible after exposure to prevent erosion.  This is especially important on steep slopes and erodible soils, in streamside management zones, and at stream crossings.  Refer to the Soil Stabilization section in the Forest Roads section of this website.

If you know of an endangered or threatened species existing on your area of operation, special considerations may be recommended to maintain suitable habitat.  Contact your IDNR District Natural Heritage Biologist for more information (See Appendix A).